The music industry is a massive pool of people, but there are times where it’s quite a small world. Last week my buddy Eli was showing me some new music, and one of those artists was rising Baton Rouge rapper 22

The music industry is a massive pool of people, but there are times where it’s quite a small world.

Last week my buddy Eli was showing me some new music, and one of those artists was rising Baton Rouge rapper 22Savage. Taking after XXL Freshman 21Savage, 22 explains it’s because of the vast similarities the two street rappers have.

“I’m really in the slums. I’m in the trenches…What people don’t understand is that underneath this funny, it’s really real. We’re in the streets. I’m a street nigga trying to make it out anyway I can,” 22 says in an interview with SOHH.

In regards to the closeness in name, 22 Savage claims he “just felt like jacking him.”

I jacked 21 Savage’s name. I jacked him out of his name. I just changed the number. I just jacked him. He’s gotta take his licks. I just felt like jacking him.

Aside from the name, the duo of savages even bear a slight resemblance to each other, though that’s where the similarities end for the most part. His music, while it does sound similar to 21’s at times, does definitely differ from that of the Slaughter King. That being said, there’s one more title of 21’s that 22 Savage will also be jacking—he plans on releasing a new project titled Savage Mode sooner than later.

The project’s campaign is spearheaded by his buzzing single “Jumpin’,” which has racked up over 250k on Soundcloud and is climbing steadily on Worldstar’s Youtube channel (230k in a day and counting). Not only has that joint been taking over the internet, but Twitter’s helped spread the word about 22 through a number of people’s jokes and reactions:

While the jokes are fun, 22 is masterfully making use of the internet’s viral culture and using it to bolster his actual talent as an artist. I’m sure he’ll get flak for the name, but at the same time the talent is definitely there, and his shit bumps.

Talent will always speak louder and go farther than controversy, so expect him to be around for awhile—I’m definitely looking forward to what else he’s got on the way.